Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I thank the House for the very reasoned and calm responses to and submissions on the Ferns inquiry report. It was essentially a mini debate and we have often treated serious matters in this fashion. Senator Brian Hayes rightly praised Mr. Justice Murphy. I read the entire report last night and, like Senator Brian Hayes, I was unable to sleep much afterwards. I wanted to read very line of the report, which is simply horrific.

Senator Brian Hayes stated that we should respond coolly and set out legislation. He also asked when the announcement regarding the commencement of the investigation into clerical child abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin would be made. I will contact the offices of the Taoiseach and the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, about proposed legislation and the investigation today and I hope to be able to report back to Senators by tomorrow morning.

Senator Brian Hayes also asked that we congratulate Colm O'Gorman, a call with which I fully agree. Mr. O'Gorman was a calm and brave voice against a sea of people who did not wish to hear him. I also agree with Senator Brian Hayes's comment that Canon Law cannot take precedence over civil law. Refusing to bless the remarriages of divorced Catholics and refusing to allow them inside the portals of a Catholic church are two of the most cruel acts of the Catholic Church. Divorce is the law of the land. I know of a couple who lobbied hard for a church blessing in several parishes in Dublin but were refused by three parishes. These are people who go to church each Sunday. It is a terrible thing to do to anyone and represents the precedence of Canon Law over civil law because the church is refusing to recognise that divorce is legal, passed by a referendum with the legislation passed by both Houses of Oireachtas. It is disgraceful for the church to stand in the way of love by refusing to give church blessings in these circumstances.

Senator Brian Hayes spoke of Bishop Eamonn Walsh's genuine humility and strong intellect, qualities which are difficult to find in one individual but which Bishop Walsh has in abundance. His clarity of thought and intellect and, above all, his total humility shine forth when he speaks.

Senator O'Toole spoke about a priest, whose identity is known to me, who was transferred in the classic fashion to Mayo because of a magazine article of his that hurt the church. Senator O'Toole also spoke about the Stay Safe programme. I vividly recall a visit by a delegation from the INTO led by the Senator to the Department of Education in 1989 that concerned this programme, about which he informed me. Both Senator O'Toole and I remember the great hostility within the Department towards the implementation of the programme. The head psychologist and assistant secretary in charge of primary education argued strongly against its implementation, which they said was unnecessary. I was immediately attracted to the programme because it was easily understood by young people and used simple language while laid out in a proper academic fashion. The INTO put a considerable amount of time into it.

Mandatory reporting was never introduced because the clergy in every diocese were bound to secrecy. I imagine every diocese will have to set up investigations into its clergy and how it manages its business. I hope this report brings about considerable change. I respect that, as most people here have said, there are very good priests, brothers and nuns — we all know such people. The episode mentioned by Senator O'Toole concerning a priest who insisted on officiating at both the confirmation and funeral of a child he was alleged to have abused was unbelievable.

Senator Ryan quoted from a conversation some years ago with a senior Garda officer and spoke about the possible existence of a cautionary culture of silence in the Catholic Church, which involved swearing members to silence. Thankfully, parents have taken a much greater role on boards of management of schools. Senator Ryan asked about the reason for the delay in initiating an inquiry in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

A considerable number of schools in Cork would not implement the Stay Safe programme. I remember receiving filthy letters, the majority of which were from Cork, which accused me of harming children by introducing the programme. A group from Cork parked its bus outside my house one Saturday and told all the visitors to my clinic that I was harming Irish children.